Karen Clark’s Legacy
Karen Clark was a legislator for 38 years, and she passed away unexpectedly on June 30, 2026. Her laughter, and her dedication to justice will be missed.
Karen Clark was a mentor and a friend, and I respect her as much as I’ve respected anyone on earth. One thing that totally amazes me about Karen is that she was a mentor and friend to so many people. She had an overflowing optimism and kindness that made us feel like our movements for justice will inevitably succeed; and that our participation in these movements is imperative. Her loss will be grieved across Minnesota, and she will be remembered forever.
Karen Clark and me at the SD28 DFL Convention in North Branch on February 28, 2026. Karen was my biggest supporter even before Day 1.
Karen grew up on a farm in southwestern Minnesota where her parents were sharecroppers. As a kid, Karen tragically lost her brother, and that pain stuck with Karen for her entire life. Karen attended the University of Minnesota where she studied public health, and after a few years as a public health nurse, someone associated with the Farmer Laborer Association asked Karen if she would run for State Representative. Taken aback, Karen laughed it off. But eventually she said yes, and was elected in 1980. Karen then served for 38 years and became the first openly gay legislator in Minnesota, and the longest-serving openly gay legislator in the country. You can watch a short but rich interview of Karen with this link.
As I look through the news stories about Karen, one part of her legacy that has not been discussed enough is Karen’s unwavering pursuit of environmental justice. As a public health nurse, Karen knew better than most people the deleterious effects of pollution on our public health. She knew how car exhaust, chemicals like PFAs, pesticide runoff, aerosols, fumes from garbage incinerators, etc. would inevitably result in cancer, lead poisoning, lung disease, heart disease, and more.
Karen worked with Republican and DFL legislators alike to pass the first cumulative levels bill in the entire country- a law which required the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to evaluate new industrial permits based on the aggregate amount of pollution that already exists in the community. This cumulative levels bill, which originally only protected the East Phillips neighborhood in South Minneapolis, has now been expanded to protect communities state-wide, and has even been adopted by the US EPA in some instances.
Karen also helped create and support dozens of organizations that advocate for Native rights, health, and prosperity. For example, Karen served on the Indigenous Peoples’ Task Force, a group focused on youth education and low income housing. Karen also helped create the Little Earth Urban Farm, a farm which feeds people and provides youth jobs and education in the country’s only Native-preference Section 8 housing complex. Karen also served on the board of the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute, a group focused on creating a new paradigm of green economic growth through cultural and community-led programs and education. You couldn’t go to an event with Karen without everyone in the room wanting to give Karen a hug because of how she impacted their lives directly.
Karen was the Activist Executive Director of Women’s Environmental Institute (WEI), a nonprofit farm in North Branch focused on growing food as medicine. WEI is also engaged in research for aquaponics and they teach a number of classes, including how to care for apple trees, how to care for bees, and how to grow fish from “fry to fry.” Karen’s involvement also took WEI in the direction of advocating for better environmental protections as they worked with former MPCA whistleblower Dr. Fardin Oliaei to educate the public about the 3M spill that resulted in PFAs contamination of groundwater in Minnesota.
Karen is one of the special people who never gave up on her belief in the possibility for justice to prevail. I know that now more than ever Karen would want us to keep demanding justice, see through the lies of hateful interests, stay close to our loving communities, and fight back as a powerful force for good.
I wish I could’ve told Karen one more time that I love her. I will miss Karen dearly, just as everyone who had the gift of knowing her.
Minnesota lost a champion and a healer, but the work for justice will continue in Karen’s name.